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Herbaceous Vegetation

From the desert to rainforest

Herbs can grow almost anywhere on Earth. Sometimes appear in huge quantity, coating it is of great importance in the formation of various types of vegetation, often totally dominate the landscape, as in the steppes, savannas and prairies. The herbal form a large group of plants and play a very important role in providing, by the nature of food for many animals, which are, in turn, food others. It should be herbaceous see some of the associations exist. In the arid desert, only a few crassulacean plants and herbs can survive. As decreases the degree of aridity, comes the semi-desert, with a bit of greenery. When the land becomes more fertile and rainfall increases, the steppe appears where herbaceous extension, plus herbs, also develops some bushes. There are large areas of steppes, especially in Russia, Central Asia, North America (grasslands) and South America (pampas), located within the continent or are surrounded by high mountains, and thus within the continents, the rain clouds coming from the sea to reach very rarely. The drier parts of the steppe are often shrubby, with a very sparse vegetation of grasses and shrubs; wetter parts have higher plant density. In sub-tropical areas of Africa, South America and Australia, appear in border areas between the steppe and the rainforest, savannas, plains with some shrubs and trees. The savanna needs better soil conditions and rainfall denser than the steppe. Generally, the steppe and savannah have a short rainy season and during the rest of the year reigns drought. During this last period, the burning bush and the cold steppe herbs and plants wither and many trees lose their leaves, the start of the rainy season, the vegetation develops, gaining new looks lush as by magic. The vegetation is most abundant in the tropical forests of the Amazon and equatorial Africa, where the climate is warm all year round and rainfall plentiful. In tropical forests, the herb plays a minor role, because the vegetation is totally dominated by impenetrable tangle of trees, shrubs and other woody plants.

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The steppe

Steppe is a word of Russian origin used to describe the type of herbaceous plain typical of some places of little rainfall. The steppe is often a very fertile soil and today is exploited on a large scale, thanks to artificial irrigation, serving as pasture for livestock. The original vegetation of the steppe is characterized by plants that support well the drought, including abundant herbaceous species of the genus Stipa, forming clumps that grow, and bulbous plants, which, during the rainy season, bloom in a riot of colors, for soon wither quickly. The broader zones of steppes and are known in Russia, Central Asia, Hungary, North America and South America. The Russian steppe, famous for its fertile black soil is mostly cultivated. The large areas of the steppes of Central Asia, populated by nomads, have not been grown in so high a degree and provide pasture for yaks, sheep and goats. The steppe Hungarian Puszta, we associate the idea of riding shepherds, huge bonfires and vibrant music Zingara became, for the most part, in a rich agricultural area. The original Puszta remains now only a small area in northwestern Hungary. The vast steppe of South America called pampas, the Indian word which means "heaven on earth". Currently produces corn and flax, in increasingly large areas. It extends through Argentina also reached the Uruguay and southern Brazil. Became much since in the 16th century, the Spanish conquistadors reached these lands, the natural herb has been replaced by several other species more productive and, as a result of artificial irrigation and the most appropriate methods of cultivation, is currently producing corn and flax, in ever wider areas. The North American prairie is today a magnificent agricultural area, with cultures that extend over many kilometers and a production that clearly exceeds its own internal needs. The territory is very different from that found by the first immigrants crossed with their caravans, to the West, attracted by chimeric gold mines or the ability to cultivate their own land. In the eastern areas, the grass grew so very high and the crops were plentiful, but the beleaguered areas west of the Rockies, where rains were scarce, were covered with grass low, making it necessary to introduce artificial irrigation. The lives of the settlers and their struggles with the Indian tribes have left a wake romantic, due to the large number of reports and films made on the subject. ...........................................................................................................................

The savanna

The savanna is a plain with some herbaceous shrubs and trees is known by many documentary films about Africa. However, they do not exist only in Africa but also in India, Australia and South America, areas of tropical heat which does not exceed rainfall 900-1500 mm per year. The savanna has a kind of transitional vegetation between the steppe and the rainforest, able to withstand periods of drought. During the latter, the herbs and plants wilt, many trees and shrubs lose their leaves and the animals are hungry and thirsty. But during the rainy season, which is usually the hottest time of year, everything suddenly awakens to life: the savanna is covered then herbal plants flourish again, the trees bear leaves and animals find food easily. See a landscape that shows the typical plants and animals of the savanna. It appears baobab, whose rugged trunk acts as a water tank, as well as various types of acacias. In the driest savanna, steppe near, grow very few trees, which abound more nearby tropical forests. However, in the savanna flora dominated by herbs of all kinds, with varieties of large size as elephant grass, which can reach 6 m in height, are also characteristic types of Euphorbia, whose shapes resemble cactus. The fauna of the African savannah is very rich, and is composed of elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, rhinos, ostriches, lions etc. The most inhumane hunting practiced by man and destruction of plants threaten to end the bush and turn it into a desert. Presently we were able to save large areas of destruction through the process of declaring them reserves. These natural spaces, the animals benefit protection, and pristine landscape of the savannah is being preserved for future generations.

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The plow, the sickle, the cattle

Agriculture emerged in the late Stone Age, but this time the main power came from livestock and forests were devastated to make way for pastures. Cultivation of land, worked up the land with primitive wooden plows and harvesting hay and grain, very simple sickles were used. For a long time, it was granted to stations that provide food to the animals during the winter, a higher importance than the one for cereals. However, to increase the population, the bread has acquired a greater role in feeding and cultivation of cereals grown in value and importance. Some of the largest herbaceous areas of the world, as the steppes and savannas, eventually becoming the regions of higher cereal production of our time, such as in the North American prairies and in the pampas of South America. Currently, to solve the power problems of humanity, we seek to actively discover new arable land. Moreover, it is necessary to develop new methods of cultivation, fight harmful insects and tillage tools create more effective, so it would be possible to obtain larger agricultural areas of Asia. There is a huge difference between the yield obtained in highly mechanized agricultural crops in North America and worked in the fields manually in underdeveloped countries. The herb has been cultivated not only for use in food, but also as adornment factor and rest. In English-style parks, which were a product of love, in the 18th century, dedicated to nature and also a reaction against the previous cold French style regarding parks, special emphasis is given to cut cute grass mats, where to plant trees and shrubs in a perfectly natural way, without forcing its ordination. In our day, Britain continues to distinguish itself by its lawn care parks and private gardens. But the beautiful lawns are not only in England. In all parts, owners of beautiful villas and cottages strive to create them, are also important part of parks and urban green areas. But the fact is that a carpet of grass requires a lot of work; digging, fertilizing, seeding, trampling, mowing and watering are necessary tasks that require a lot of time. However, such efforts are largely offset by excellent results.

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The Meadows

It is often called meadow to an open area where the grass grows naturally. Lower in the landscape can be enjoyed various types of meadows and contemplated the variety of its flora, which depends on the moisture content of the ground. The canes are herbs and much larger reeds as sedges that there are areas of ponds are, in a way, a kind of meadow, the wettest of all, where the birds make their nests and pike lurking prey consists for smaller fish. Previously, these reeds were collected for winter cattle fodder. Nowadays, however, are hindrances to cover many inland lakes threat being addressed with different methods, including spraying The riparian meadows are another important kind. Are formed by plant species and in them lives a numerous and diverse fauna. The plants find themselves in general, half submerged at least up to the roots. Another kind of wet prairie bog is usually formed by mosses and small reeds. Among the herbaceous associations not soaked, we can distinguish the actual grasslands, heaths and alpine meadows. The first of this series usually show over the spring and summer, a variety of colorful flowers, as well as numerous fauna composed of butterflies, flies, beetles and grasshoppers. These stations are places of great beauty, although this is not its only advantage. Indeed, since antiquity, the meadows have been used for grazing livestock and for growing hay. Heaths, pastures in low mountain wetlands, are almost always caused by the degradation of the forest. Places are usually green, covered not only herbs, but also scattered bushes and woods. Can be utilized for grazing cattle lanar, as happens, for example, in the highlands of Scotland, in many regions came to chop and burn the forest, to turn it into heathland. The alpine meadows have a special flora adapted to the harsher living conditions in areas of high altitude.

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The herbs in the service of man

The herbs belong to several families, one of which, the grasses, one of which, the grasses, is the most numerous of the plant kingdom and without any doubt the most important to mankind. Directly or indirectly, in the grasses provide basic food, such as flour and meal obtained from different cereals (in cold regions - wheat, rye, barley and oats, the hot - rice, corn and millet). The cereals are high in starch but contain, in addition, other substances very important. The sweet juice of the cane sugar and other species provide sugars and syrups. The pastures, natural or cultured, feed the cattle and this, in turn, provides meat and dairy products. The pasture grasses are many and extensive ranges in size, appearance, speed of growth, pest resistance and ability to withstand biting and the passage of animals. Previously, mingled in the grounds several kinds of herbs, but nowadays, are sown only a few species, chosen according to the situation of the place. The herb is useful not only for food it provides, but also for many other reasons. Bamboos, of great importance in tropical countries, are the only woody grasses; nevertheless are very flexible. The bamboo stalks that can reach 40m in height are utilized as elements of building houses, fences, bridges etc. Also serve for pipes, vessels, furniture, fishing rods and other instruments. The sheet is used for coating roofs and for the manufacture of writing paper and packaging. It also gets paper from stems and leaves of other grasses Mediterranean and tropical; leaves and roots are extracted from aromatic oils for the perfume industry; a seed, alcoholic beverages and alcohol for the industry and, with further treatment obtains various other products such as adhesives, cosmetics, plastics, etc. The sheet is used for coating roofs and for the manufacture of writing paper and packaging. It also gets paper from stems and leaves of other grasses Mediterranean and tropical; leaves and roots are extracted from aromatic oils for the perfume industry; seeds, alcoholic beverages and alcohol for the industry and, with further treatment obtain various other products such as adhesives, cosmetics, plastics, etc. Planting herbs proved to be an effective method to prevent erosion of the land and the dangerous advance of dunes, since the roots hold the soil and sand. Additionally, herbs are a delight for our eyes, in the form of maintained lawns in the parks of modern cities or in private gardens, are also grown as adornment some grass for their beautiful leaves or decorative inflorescences.